Auto accidents should always be reported as soon as possible. Failure to file an accident report within five days may result in serious legal consequences. It can also compromise your ability to receive compensation for injuries and property damage. Generally, you will need to contact the police at the scene of an accident to file a report. 

The responding officers can evaluate the accident site, obtain statements from drivers, passengers, and witnesses, document other evidence, and determine the cause of the collision. They may even assign blame and issue citations for violations of traffic laws. Citations will be included in the report by the officers.

You will need a police report to file a claim for any uninsured motorist benefits to which you may be entitled if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver or another vehicle that flees the scene. 

Occasionally, law enforcement officers do not respond to an accident site, either because the collision is minor or because the parties involved are unable to summon assistance.

If you find yourself in this situation, you must still file an accident report within five days of the collision with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Failure to comply may result in the suspension of your driver's license.

In Pennsylvania, Are You Required to File a Car Accident Report?

Under Pa. C.S.A. § 3744, a reportable accident is one that incorporates at least one of the following elements:

• Death of a person.
• Personal injuries that require medical attention.
• Damage to any vehicle involved to the extent that it cannot be driven under its own power in its customary manner without further damage or hazard to the vehicle, other traffic elements, or the roadway, and therefore requires towing.

On occasion, however, drivers do not initially believe they sustained injuries or property damage in an accident, but it later becomes apparent that they did. You have five days from the date of the accident to file Form AA-600, Driver's Accident Report, if this occurred to you.

How to File a Pennsylvania Car Accident Report

If the police arrive at the scene of the accident, they will submit a report that includes a summary of witness interviews and a description of the evidence they observed. Using the PA DOT Form AA-600, Driver's Accident Report, you may file a car accident report if the police do not respond to the scene of the accident or you do not contact them.

After an accident, you have five days to file a report with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. You can submit a report online or by downloading and mailing a form. Inaction could result in the loss of driving and registration privileges in the state, as well as the inability to file an insurance claim.

How Do I Request a Copy of My Car Accident Report in Pennsylvania?

According to the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), a person involved in a car accident, their attorney, their insurer, or any government agency may submit an application (SP 7-0015, Application to Obtain Copy of Police Crash Report) within 15 days of the incident to obtain a car accident report. 

If you have a physical copy of the report and want a digital copy, you can search for it using the Incident Number. Search for your name and the date of the accident if you do not have a copy of the report. You can purchase a $22 copy that will be emailed to you.

Does a Car Accident Report Indicate Who Was at Fault?

A police report may contain relevant details, witness statements, and other evidence for determining liability after a car accident. However, an insurance company will assign fault, whereas a car accident report does not. Insurance adjusters determine who is ultimately at fault in a car accident. In certain scenarios, both drivers may be partially at fault, in which case an insurance adjuster will assign each driver a percentage of fault.

Filing a Pennsylvania Car Accident Insurance Claim

Pennsylvania is a no-fault auto insurance state, which means that regardless of who caused the accident, your own insurance company is the primary insurer. However, this does not imply that the insurance company will approach your claim and compensation demands fairly. In addition, if your own insurance does not cover the total cost of damages, you may be able to file a claim against the driver at fault. Consult with a PA car accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident to discuss your case.

The Law Office of Brandon J. Broderick, Pennsylvania Car Accident Lawyers, Can Help You

Accident victims are not required by law to be represented by an attorney when filing a personal injury claim. However, working with an experienced attorney who is familiar with whiplash injury claims can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. Why take the chance of being compensated unjustly when you have no recourse? When you retain a car accident attorney from our firm, you pay nothing upfront. We only collect payment for our services if we win your case. If we lose, you do not pay.

Contact attorney Brandon J. Broderick today for a free consultation. With our track record of success and dedication to client care, we can help you recover from your setback.